NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Tudor Gets Win as Cardinals Rout Phillies

Maybe all John Tudor needed was to be reunited with his favorite manager, Whitey Herzog.

Tudor, who was slow to recover from elbow surgery and pitched only 14 innings last season, gave up three hits in six innings in the Cardinals’ 11-0 victory Friday that spoiled Philadelphia’s home opener.

In his first start since July 8, Tudor won for the first time since Sept. 18, 1988, when he helped the Dodgers win the pennant.

Rookie catcher Todd Zeile hit a two-run home run in the first inning and a two-run double in a seven-run ninth.

Tudor, a 21-game winner under Herzog in 1985, was traded to the Dodgers in 1988 for Pedro Guerrero.

The Dodgers gave up on Tudor and the 36-year-old left-hander signed with the Cardinals as a free agent.

“I thought he pitched great,” Herzog said. Asked why he signed Tudor, who seemed to be finished, he answered, “I didn’t think he would sign if he couldn’t pitch. I talked with him and he said he could pitch. That was good enough for me.”

Tudor didn’t want to talk about his elbow and shoulder problems.

“I’m trying to put last year behind me,” he said. “I don’t want to rehash surgeries and rehabs. I want to have a positive attitude.

“But I didn’t tell anybody I could still pitch. I told Herzog I thought I could pitch. There are no guarantees in life. Right now I feel pretty good. But with my history, I really can’t let myself get overconfident.”

Chicago 2, Pittsburgh 0--Ryne Sandberg hit a two-run home run to spoil the Pirates’ home opener and give Greg Maddux a victory in his first start.

Maddux gave up only two hits in 7 2/3 innings to outpitch Bob Walk.

Sandberg also had a double and a single to raise his average to .517 on nine hits in 17 at-bats. Lifetime he is only .229 in April.

Maddux went in with a 2-7 record and an earned-run average of 4.06 against the Pirates, but gave up only two singles to Barry Bonds. Mitch Williams took over and got the last four outs to pick up his third save in four games.

New York 4, Montreal 1--Knowing how tough New York fans can be, Mike Marshall was beginning to get a little anxious.

When he came to bat in the 10th inning of the Expos’ home opener, he was one for 15 as a Met. But the former Dodger lined a two-out single to left to score Howard Johnson from second and give the Mets the victory. Barry Lyons followed with a home run and John Franco came in to pick up his second save.

“I’m just glad I finally did something to help,” Marshall said. “I know New York fans aren’t the most patient in the world.”

The Mets acquired Marshall and relief pitcher Alejandro Pena from the Dodgers in the off-season for Juan Samuel.

The big hits came off Tim Burke, who had 28 saves last year. After three poor outings this season, Burke has an 8.10 ERA.

Cincinnati 5, Atlanta 2--Chris Sabo, trying to recover from a disastrous 1989 season, hit two home runs at Atlanta and Barry Larkin hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh to break a tie.

The Reds, who have won four in a row to start the season, broke a 2-2 tie without the benefit of a hit. Three walks loaded the bases with one out for Larkin.

Sabo, the 1988 rookie of the year, went into a slump the second half of that season. Last year he had only six home runs and batted .260, spending part of the season in the minors.

Manager Lou Piniella worked with Sabo on a new batting stance and said he could hit 45 home runs.

Dale Murphy accounted for the Braves’ runs with a two-run homer in the second inning.

San Diego 8, San Francisco 3--Garry Templeton opened the ninth inning of a tie game at San Francisco with a double and the Padres went on to get five runs.

A three-base error by right fielder Kevin Bass and a throwing error by catcher Gary Carter contributed to the Padres’ big inning. It was San Diego’s third victory in a row.

Dan Quisenberry was the loser, while Greg Harris, who got the last two outs in the eighth, was the winner.